BARRE — A Montpelier man who has admitted having sexual contact with a 5-year-old girl will be getting a new lawyer before he is sentenced on the charges.

Gordon R. Spillman, 48, pleaded guilty in February to sexual exploitation of a child and aggravated sexual assault, both felonies, in Washington County criminal court. As part of the plea, Spillman agreed to a sentence of 12 years to life.

Charges of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child, possession of child pornography and recording the sexual conduct of a child were dropped under the agreement.

According to the Montpelier police affidavit, Spillman took nude pictures of the girl while she slept in 2011. Police also said the girl told her parents in 2012 that Spillman had touched her sexually one time when they were playing Go Fish.

Police said they found several pornographic images of children on CDs Spillman had created.

Spillman told police he was interested in girls 6 to 13 years old and blamed his depression for his actions, according to court records.

In court Tuesday, Spillman’s public defender, Maggie Vincent, would not give much reason for her withdrawal from the case, except to say there was a communication breakdown.

In the motion Vincent filed asking for her removal from the case, she said the breakdown happened right after Spillman pleaded guilty and he wanted a “second opinion” on his case.

Judge Thomas Zonay wanted to make sure Spillman understood that Vincent’s leaving his case would not change anything with his plea and the case would still move forward to sentencing. Spillman said he understood.

His case is awaiting the results of a presentencing investigation before Spillman learns his fate.